| Unit name | Issues in Social Psychology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PSYC30017 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Dr. Park |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Psychological Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit provides more in-depth coverage of core areas of social psychology as well as coverage of important interdisciplinary areas, including moral psychology, political psychology, cross-cultural psychology and online behaviour. There will be a focus on understanding real-world societal problems from a scientific perspective. There will also be discussion of how research findings are disseminated and the impact on policy that can follow.
Aims:
- Develop students’ interest, scientific knowledge and understanding of the research on social psychology and relevant interdisciplinary areas. - Develop a thorough understanding of the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory and how theory guides the collection and interpretation of empirical data. - Encourage students to see the relevance and applicability of their knowledge and the broader connections between intellectual areas. - Help students to understand the historical and ongoing issues in the subject matter and their relation to other disciplines in the social sciences.
On completion of this unit, the student will
- Be able to draw connections between the natural and social sciences. - Have a comprehensive understanding and scientific knowledge of social psychological research and the relevant interdisciplinary areas. - Have a deeper understanding of the research process and how real-world societal problems can be approached from a scientific perspective. - Have greater awareness of the broader implications of social psychological research.
Teaching will consist of 18 x one hour lectures and 5 x one hour tutorials.
Assessment will comprise 1 x 2-hour written exam (70%) and 1 x 1600-word essay (30%).
Essential readings:
Articles accompanying lectures will be made available on Blackboard.
Recommended readings:
Heine, S. J. (2016). Cultural psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Norton.
Further readings:
Schaller, M., Norenzayan, A., Heine, S. J., Kameda, T., & Yamagishi, T. (Eds.). (2009). Evolution, culture, and the human mind. New York: Erlbaum.
